We agree with that conclusion. United States v. Rose, 153 F.3d 208 (5th Cir. 1998); Bae v. Shalala, 44 F.3d 489 (7th Cir. 1995). Slugocki v. Department of Labor, 988 F. Supp. 1443 (S.D.Fla. 1997).
" Id. at 466-67. See also United States v. Crawford, 115 F.3d 1397, 1402-1403 (8th Cir. 1997); United States v. Rose, 153 F.3d 208, 211 n. 1 (5th Cir. 1998). Wilson's reliance on United States v. Mussari, 152 F.3d 1156 (9th Cir. 1998), is misplaced.
This circuit has held that restitution imposed under the VWPA is punishment for the purpose of the Ex Post Facto Clause. See United States v. Rose, 153 F.3d 208, 211 n. 1 (5th Cir. 1998); United States v. Corn, 836 F.2d 889, 895-96 (5th Cir. 1988). By requiring the court to order restitution in the full amount of loss, without considering the defendant's ability to pay, the MVRA increases the severity of the punishment a defendant faces as compared to the pre-amendment VWRA.
We review constitutional challenges de novo. See United States v. Rose, 153 F.3d 208, 209 (5th Cir. 1998). Jennings's constitutional challenge is foreclosed by our decision in United States v. Robinson, 119 F.3d 1205 (5th Cir. 1997), cert. denied ___ U.S. ___, 118 S.Ct. 1104, 140 L.Ed.2d 159 (1998).
See Tex. Fam. Code § 3.102. She argues that restitution is penal in nature and is therefore a nontortious obligation, citing United States v. Rose, 153 F.3d 208, 211 n. 1 (5th Cir. 1998), and Kelly v. Robinson, 479 U.S. 36, 55 (1986). Accordingly, Rita Urso contends that her wages cannot be garnished to satisfy her husband's criminal restitution.
Because the prohibition covers only retroactive application of legislation which is punitive in nature, the initial inquiry is whether the challenged statute is punitive. United States v. Rose, 153 F.3d 208 (5th Cir. 1998). Texas Government Code section 411.148 provides for the maintenance of DNA records on inmates who have been convicted or adjudicated as having engaged in murder, aggravated assault, first or second degree burglary of a habitation, or an offense for which the inmate is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure. Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 411.148 (West, WESTLAW through 1999 Reg. Sess.). The purpose for the maintenance of such DNA records is set forth in Texas Government Code section 411.143, which specifies the purpose is primarily to "assist federal, state, or local criminal justice or law enforcement agencies in the investigation or prosecution of sex-related offenses or other offenses in which biological evidence is recovered."
a statute violates the Ex Post Facto Clause if (1) it criminalizes conduct that was legal when done; (2) inflicts greater punishment for an offense than was inflicted by the law in existence at the time the offense was committed; or (3) eliminates a defense that was available under the law at the time the offense was committed.United States v. Rose, 153 F.3d 208, 210 (5th Cir. 1998) (citing Collins v. Youngblood, 497 U.S. 37, 42, 110 S.Ct. 2715, 2719, 111 L.Ed.2d 30 (1990)). However, the Ex Post Facto Clause only applies to laws which may be characterized as "punishment."